Dr. Aceves

[300PoundsDown 101]

The only extra expenses you have with Dr. Aceves is your dinner the night before surgery and food for whoever accompanies you if you bring someone.

Everything else was covered..transport to and from airport, hotel, preop tests, 3 nights in the hospital and he sends you home with 2 weeks of meds.

Create a few expense lists and see which is less...BUT make sure your doc in US has experience and compare hospital stays as well!

Good luck!

k

You do have to cover the flight right?

[artteacher698 0]

ooops..yes...sorry..but there are so many deals out there...i would check it out!

[Dalisgirl 1]

My flight was $450 but I am flying from Florida to California! I am dreading the flight back home with the layover. I've checked out about 4 surgeons locally. But none of them were charging less than 20k. ALSO, the local surgeons required a lot of things that I would have had to get on my own. All of my preop tests had to be ordered by my PCP, so I would have had to pay the co-pays for all of them. Same with the Psych eval. I could use my own psych and pay my co-pay or I could use theirs for $350. The Nutritionist was included with some US doctors and sometimes not. Some US Docs charge a "Program Fee" that could be from $200-500. My advice...go to the local docs seminar and ASK all the questions: what's all included, what are extra fees and more important than money....HOW many sleeves have you done and how many leaks/deaths/complications?

One more thing. How long is the hospital stay afterwards?

[Garyb_58 1]

As far as claiming the surgery on your taxes I saw a Tax Professional

on one of the morning news shows saying that you can claim the surgery

as long as it was by doctors orders. He said people are claiming it when

they have elected to have it done and that cannot be claimed on your taxes.

If anyone knows more about this please respond. I just sharing what I heard

which if that is the cases it leaves me out since I did not wait to get doctors

orders to have it done.

Gary

[300PoundsDown 101]

My flight was $450 but I am flying from Florida to California! I am dreading the flight back home with the layover. I've checked out about 4 surgeons locally. But none of them were charging less than 20k. ALSO, the local surgeons required a lot of things that I would have had to get on my own. All of my preop tests had to be ordered by my PCP, so I would have had to pay the co-pays for all of them. Same with the Psych eval. I could use my own psych and pay my co-pay or I could use theirs for $350. The Nutritionist was included with some US doctors and sometimes not. Some US Docs charge a "Program Fee" that could be from $200-500. My advice...go to the local docs seminar and ASK all the questions: what's all included, what are extra fees and more important than money....HOW many sleeves have you done and how many leaks/deaths/complications?

One more thing. How long is the hospital stay afterwards?

Good luck!! I am probably right behind you on this. I can't find anything comparable. My question is whether you had to buy two seats for the plane. I have not flown in years due to my size. I am 360 pounds and I am pretty sure I will have to buy two plane seats. I don't want to risk it and then get tossed off the plane b/c I don't fit or something horrible. The idea of being on a plane at my size with their small spaces really is upsetting to me. It causes me anxiety I don't fly for a reason . I have not flown back to see my hometown family in 8 years b.c of my size and the plane so I really feel that this is going to be a drawback for me.

[Dalisgirl 1]

Awww....I am so sorry to hear that. I understand the stress of flying. I've know people well into their 300's who fly with just one seat, but it also may depend on how your weight is proportioned. Last time I flew I was 260 and struggled to get in the seatbelt. On some of the planes, I could NOT get into the seatbelt and pretended that it was buckled. (I stretched it out over my lap and used my jacket to hide the unbuckled part.) Now I am almost 280, so I will need to ask for a seatbelt extender. BIG SIGH. :laugh0: Oh, the embarrassment and shame.

Is driving a possibility for you? Driving to either San Diego (Dr. Aceves's office will pick you up from San Diego airport and drive you across the boarder) OR driving to Texas where I've heard surgeons charge about 12,000.

You may also want to consider going to a local surgeon for a gastric bypass???

Also, if you start a pre-op diet now, you may lose enough weight to fit into that airline seat without so much anxiety. I don't know how much you have to weigh to buy two seats.

[Dalisgirl 1]

Hey, I just found this on the internet. I think it was written back in 2008. I have also read that JetBlue has bigger than average seats.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's a look at how a few different airlines deal with the "customer of size:"

Southwest: Passengers should plan on purchasing an extra seat or risk being asked to do so at the airport by staff. If the flight is not sold out, the passenger may claim a refund.

American: Passengers over 250 pounds should recognize that there may be limitations to the service that the airline can provide. However, it does not require that you purchase an extra seat automatically.

United: No policy whatsoever.

Midwest: Like Southwest, passengers are encouraged to know their needs in advance. If staff determine that two seats are required, the seat will be sold at the lowest possible fare, with a refund available if there is one or more open seats on the flight.

Air France: Passengers with "high body mass" may receive a 25 percent discount on an extra seat, knowing that if they choose to not buy the seat, they may risk not being able to fly.

JetBlue: You are required to buy a second seat, and there are no refunds.

Delta: The airline "works to accommodate" passengers with special needs. Upon request and availability, it will try to make sure the next seat is unoccupied. However, if the plane is full, you will most likely be asked to leave the flight and buy a second seat on the next available flight. (You can actually count on this being a fairly typical practice on most airlines.)

[Dalisgirl 1]

One more thing...if you DO end up flying somewhere...ask your doctor for something to help you relax on the flight so you won't be so full of anxiety.

[mswendy 0]

As far as claiming the surgery on your taxes I saw a Tax Professional

on one of the morning news shows saying that you can claim the surgery

as long as it was by doctors orders. He said people are claiming it when

they have elected to have it done and that cannot be claimed on your taxes.

If anyone knows more about this please respond. I just sharing what I heard

which if that is the cases it leaves me out since I did not wait to get doctors

orders to have it done.

Gary

Obesity is considered a disease. My accountant has verfied the tax law and you do not need a doctor to order the surgery as you would cosmetic surgery.

And yes, weight loss surgery is deductible no matter where it's done.

I would check on the deduction of flight and hotel expenses. My understanding is that these were not included as deductions.

[Mary Gordon 3]

hi, i totally agree with everyone, Dr. Aceves and his team are great. They are very reliable and professional. You will receive the best service, from day one all the way to your follow-up care. I don't about the other dr. i only know that if you choose Dr. Aceves, it will definitely be worth it and you will have no regrets. Why don't you give Nina a call, she's the patient coordinator and she'll give you all the necessary information. Goodluck!!!:thumbup:

[mswendy 0]

When I begin seriously researching WLS, I was set on having lap band. Once I did more reading, however - including through this site - I decided the sleeve was the only choice and fit for me.

I met with a surgeon locally through the Bariatric Institute of Wisconsin. He was skilled and competent, good bed side manner, but he had only performed 20 VSGs. Plus, the price in the end would be over $25,000. They included the pre-op work, but when I broke it down by line item - and they weren't happy to do that for me, maybe a little surprised - I found that some of the required pre-op would be covered by my insurance company (but not the surgery itself, how stupid is that). Since my coverage had no deductible, I could have knocked the price down by at least $8,000. Nope. Was a package deal, not a la cart.

SoI found a surgeon in Juarez that came recommmended. Did a little research and the city alone scared the crap out of me. Next. Asked some point blank questions to people about who they would recommend and many said Aceves. I talked to no less than 40 people who had had surgery done by Dr. Aceves - both by phone and email - and the references were stellar. He has had one death, which I was concerned about, but the situation was non-doctor related. Patient had a pre-existing condition that was not disclosed during their second surgery. This is one in hundreds, perhaps thousands, of surgeries that he has successfully done. To my understanding, Dr. Aceves no longer performs that type of surgery for any one, under any circumstance. It become personal to him and his staff. And...the patient did not die on the table. I believe it was complications.

Today is Tuesday night, April 13th and I leave Thursday, April 15th on 7 a.m. for my flight to San Diego. It's a little surreal for me as I really can't believe it's my turn and my time.

I will have more to say about Dr. Aceves once I experience him first hand, but for now I can tell you that of all the people and references I ran, Dr. Aceves was the best and only choice for me.

I got in during the $8750 price.

My flight from Milwaukee to San Diego was just under $230, including taxes and fees. Hotel is included in the lump sum payment to the hospital. I'm bringing my best friend I've known since I was 7 and now I'm 42. We've been through a lot together. Plus, my husband has to stay back and take of our three littles under six, including a toddler. Poor guy. lol

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. I agree with the person who said you either get good or cheap, but not both. Hold out for good. Make it happen. Save everything, every where you can. Ask for a loan, if you can. Sell things, if you can. Apply your tax returns, pick up a second job temporarily. If you want it bad enough, just put it out to the universe and it will happen.

[cajun 46]

Wendy,

Best of luck to you in your trip and surgery. I know you will be so happy that you chose Dr Aceves. Let us know how you are doing when you are able!

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

You've made the right decision Wendy!

Have a safe journey and we will be waiting to hear how you're feeling as soon as you feel up to posting. You're going to love Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos!

[Rosebud2 26]

You made the right choice. You will have a good experience.

[Mommydog14 1]

I am waiting for Dr. Aceves to approve me for surgery. I was originally thinking of getting a lap band, but after reading and reading and reading ( and talking to people) I think the sleeve is the way to go for me. I have a lower BMI,(about 30 or 31) but am a chronic yoyo dieter, so I just at this weight for a moment anyway. I had originally planned on using another surgeon, but became concerned when I could find very little about him on these forums. I talked to Dr. Aceves' coordinator and felt very comfortable. Now, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that he approves me.

Just a question----because I have an elderly mother at home who needs supervision, I may need to come without my husband or other family member. Have any of you gone alone? How was it?

Thanks.